r. Charles and Barbara Smithen - Proprieters
Dr. and Barbara Smithen always wanted to live among the vineyards, and were determined to make that dream come true. They were North Fork, Long Island residents for over twenty years, and they finally found their dream home in 1996. The farmhouse, which was built in 1860, and the surrounding 38 acres of former corn and potato fields offered outstanding conditions for growing wine grapes. The Smithen's initially planted Chardonnay vines from Burgundian clones, after careful research and planning with vineyard manager Steve Mudd, have since added Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The Smithen's house and vineyards are proudly displayed on the front of each bottle of Sherwood House wine.

illes Martin - Winemaker
With a Master of Oenology degree from France's prestigious Universite Montpellier I, award-winning winemaker Gilles Martin has directed the operations of more than two dozen wineries during his fifteen years of viniculture experience and has been the head winemaker at Sherwood House since it's inception.

As head winemaker for Macari Vineyards, his 1997 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay was served at the White House. It was also ranked sixth of all United States Chardonnays by the Beverage Tasting Institute. His Macari 1997 Merlot also earned a silver medal at the London International Wine and Spirit Competition. During Martin's years as head winemaker at Delas-Freres, in France's Rhone Valley, he directed the production of such prestigious wines as Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Chateauneuf du Pape, and Condrieu. As assistant winemaker of Roederer Estate in California, Martin trained the staff in the traditions of Methode Champenoise, and helped to produce three wines rated as the best sparkling wines ever crafted outside the Champagne region.

teven Mudd - Vineyard Master
Awarded New York State Grower in 1998 & 2000.
Stephen Mudd has been vineyard manager of Sherwood House Vineyard since 1996 when Charles and Barbara Smithen contacted him to install 5 acres of Chardonnay grapes on their 38 acre parcel, with future plantings in mind. Another 15 ½ acres of Merlot and Chardonnay were planted in 1997, and a final planting of 6 ¾ acres of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot in 2000.

Our involvement with the development of Sherwood House Vineyard has been most enjoyable for an array of reasons said Stephen Mudd. We started on the Sherwood House project 2 years before a vine was planted and made the necessary soil amendments, secured the best clones and rootstock available to be grafted and field planted. In essence, building the vineyard from the roots up.

Stephen Mudd and his father David formed Mudd Vineyard, a vineyard consulting, development and management company, and in 1974 planted their own vineyard, the second viniferous vineyard on Long Island. With 31 years of experience under their belt, Stephen and Mudd Vineyards have planted approximately1500 acres out of the total 3000 acres planted on Long Island. They have also consulted and planted for numerous vineyards along the East Coast. In 2001 New York Wine & Grape Foundation presented Mudd Vineyards with the Grower Award for Dedication and Contributions to the New York Grape Industry.